A mark carrying member affixed on a rough surface article

ABSTRACT

A mark carrying plate of metal or plastic material is bonded on the rough surface of an article such as a piano frame of cast metal, with an elastic substance interposed between the plate and the article. The mark carrying plate may be provided with a recess which receives the elastic substance so as to conceal the elastic substance therein. Interposition of the elastic substance between the plate and the article enhances the bonding strength therebetween and serves to absorb shock vibrations transmitted from the article to the plate.

I United States Patent 1191 1111 3,800,449 Minatodani et al. Apr. 2,1974 [541 MARK CARRYING MEMBER AFFIXED 3,414,305 l2/l968 Minoguc287/i89.365 F R I E 2,781,288 2/1957 1 616121111661... 161/206 ON AROUGH SUR ACE A T CL 3,219,362 11/1965 Epstein 248/350 [75] inventors:Shinichi Minatodani; Hisashi 01shi, ,85 ,752 5 1932 Scntney 248/350 bothof Hamamatsu, Japan 2,011,850 8/1935 Clarke /135 2,555,505 6/1951Plumbo..... 40/135 1 Asslgneei ifl Gakklse'z" E 2,699,618 1/1955 Stupell40 125 A Kililsha, HamamatSu-Shh 3,117,045 1 1964 Schwickert 161 167Shizuoka-ken, ap n 3,204,377 9 1965 Johnson 156 71 [22] Filed: Jan. 11,1971 E G Primary xaminereorge F. Lesmes [21] Appl' 105381 AssistantExaminer-R. J. Roche Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf [30]Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 9, 1970 Japan -357! 57 ABSTRACTJan. 10, 1970 Japan 45-3134 A mark carrying plate of metal or plasticmater al is 52 us. c1. 40/2 R, 40/22, 40/135, bonded the rough Surfaceof article Such as a 248/205 A, 248/358 R, 161/104, 161/105, piano frameof cast metal, with an elastic substance 161/167, 84/192 interposedbetween the plate and the article. The 51 1111. C1. (10913/02, B32b25/20 mark carrying P1ate may be Provided with a recess [58] Field ofSearch 4/192; 161/104 102 105 which receives the elastic substance S0 38t0 conceal 161/167. 40/138, 137 A, 2 R, the elastic substance therein.interposition of the elas- 156/71' 257/189 365' i48/358 R, 350, 205 Atic Substance between the plate and the article enhances the bondingstrength therebetween and serves [56] References Cited to absorb shockvibrations transmitted from the article UNITED STATES PATENTS the Plate'3,399,103 8 1968 Salyer et al. 161 68 5 Claims, 3 Drawing FiguresBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method ofaffixing a mark carrying plate or member denoting, for example, thetrade mark of manufacturer to a proper place on a commercial article,and a structure obtained by the same method, and more particularly to amethod and a structure adapted to attach the mark carrying member to arough surface of the article and having resistivity to external impacts.

With commercial articles, it is general practice to affix to a properplace thereon a mark carrying plate of plastic or metal materialincluding letters or patterns for displaying the trade mark ofmanufacturer. With a piano, for example, there is attached a markcarrying plate to a frame of cast material over which strings arestretched.

The conventional method of affixing the mark carrying plate hasconsisted of coating adhesive of epoxy resin (suitable for bondingmetals) on the underside of the plate and the surface of an article towhich the plate is to be affixed, and pressing it against the surface ofthe article. With the prior art method, however, where an article to befitted with a mark carrying plate had a rough surface like thatpresented by a piano frame of cast material, it was difficult to obtaina satisfactory adhesive strength between the article and the plate.Accordingly, the mark carrying plate attached to the surface of anarticle such as a piano frame, subjected to impacts or vibrations, wasoften likely to come off therefrom due to the break of the adhesivelayer during the use of the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present inventionis to provide an improved method and structure for affixing a markcarrying member to a rough surface article in a stable condition andwith a satisfactory bonding strength. Another object of the invention isto provide an improved method and structure for affixing a mark carryingmember to a rough surface article, which absorb shock vibrationstransmitted from the article to the mark carrying member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of affixing a mark carrying member on an article which comprisesthe steps of interposing an elastic substance between the article andthe mark carrying member, applying an adhesive between the elasticsubstance and the mark carrying member and between the elastic substanceand the article, and pressing the mark carrying member toward thearticle, so that the mark carrying member is firmly bonded to thearticle with the elastic substance interposed therebetween.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevation of a piano frameto which there is affixed a mark carrying member;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line IIII of FIG. 1, showing a markcarrying member affixing structure according to an example of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view to FIG. 2 indicating another exampleof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there isindicated a piano frame 1 of cast metal as an example of an article tobe affixed with a mark carrying plate -or member 2. The piano frame 1has a large number of strings 3 stretched thereover. The mark carryingmember 2 is usually made of metal such as aluminum, hard plastic or woodand includes letters or patterns indicating the trade mark of the pianomanufacturer. The mark carrying member 2 may, of course, denote othersigns or symbols. Such letters or patterns may be cut or printeddirectly on the mark carrying member 2, or another paper or sheet havingsuch letters or patterns printed thereon may be separately attached tothe mark carrying member or mark body 2.

The piano frame 1 is generally made of casting and has a rough surface1A as illustrated in FIG. 2. The structure for affixing a mark carryingmember according to an example of the present invention presents, asshown in FIG. 2, a sandwich construction in which there is interposed anelastic substance 4 coated on both sides with adhesive layers 5 and 6between the mark carrying member 2 and the surface 1A of the pianoframe 1. Namely, the mark carrying member 2 is pressed against thesurface 1A of the frame 1 through the elastic substance 4 like siliconrubber coated on both sides with an adhesive of, for example, epoxyresin.

In this case, the elastic substance 4 is pressed against the surface 1Aof the frame 1 while being compressed and spreads itself outward. Uponhardening of the adhesive, the elastic substance 4 is relieved of acompressive force and the edges thereof which come out to the outside ofthe mark carrying member 2 are knifed off to complete the mark affixingoperation.

As mentioned above, the insertion under pressure of the elasticsubstance between the mark carrying member of mark body 2 and thesurface of the article 1 causes the elastic substance to display goodfit with irregularities on the rough surface and to provide a broaderarea of adhesion to realize greater adhesivity. According to the presentinvention, when a mark carrying member is affixed to an object like apiano frame which is subjected to the vibrations of the strings or otherimpacts, the elastic substance absorbs the vibrations or impactstransmitted from the object to the member, thereby fully to protect thehardened adhesive layer therefrom.

According to the structure of FIG. 2, hardening of the adhesive layers 5and 6 causes the peripheral edge of the elastic substance 4 to be curvedinward with the resultant loss of visual appeal. Further, it isnecessary, as described above, to knife off the protruding edge of theelastic substance 4. If in this case, an object to which a mark carryingmember is to be affixed consists of metal like a piano frame, the knifeedge is likely to be damaged. In view of this fact, the presentinvention may be developed into the example shown in FIG. 3.

According to this example, the entire periphery of the disk-shaped markcarrying member 2 is provided with a circular projection 2A so as todefine a recess 28 on the lower surface thereof which faces the surface1A of the piano frame 1. In the recess 28 is placed a diskshaped elasticsubstance 4 coated with adhesive layers 5 and 6 on both sides. That is,the elastic substance 4 is interposed between the mark carrying member 2and the piano frame 1, and an adhesive is applied between the elasticsubstance 4 and the member 2 and between the elastic substance 4 and thepiano frame 1. It is preferred that the diameter of the elasticsubstance 4 be smaller than that of the recess 2B and that its thicknessbe slightly larger than the depth of the recess 23. For example, suchdimensions will be set as follows: diameter of the circular recess is 65mm; diameter of the elastic substance, 48 mm; depth of the recess, 0.6mm; and thickness of the elastic substance, 1 mm. Under this condition,the mark carrying member 2 is pressed against the surface 1A of thepiano frame 1. At this time, the circumferential edge of the elasticsubstance 4 protrudes outward due to compression. Since, however, thereis allowed in advance a clearance between the circumferential edge ofthe elastic substance 4 and the circular projection 2A of the markcarrying member 2, the edge of the substance 4 is forced out into theclearance. When the member 2 is released from compression, it is affixedto the surface of the piano frame 1 with a minute clearance left betweenthe lower end .of the projection 2A and the surface 1A of the pianoframe 1. Under such construction, the elastic substance does notprotrude to the outside of the mark carrying member 2, eliminating theoperation of knifing off the edge of the substance 4. Further, theprojection 2A of the member 2 conceals the elastic substance 4,providing a better visual appeal.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the recess 2B is formed in the markcarrying member 2, but this is not restricted to this example alone.According to still another example, the recess may be formed in thearticle 1 itself if the article has a sufficient thickness. In thiscase, the elastic substance 4 is placed in the recess formed in thearticle 1. Further, such recesses may be formed in both the markcarrying member and the article so that the elastic substance isenclosed in the recesses.

What we claim is:

1. In a piano or the like, a mark affixing structure for affixing afree, unrestrained mark carrying member to a rough-surfaced frame whichis subjected to impacts and/or vibrations, said mark affixing structurecomprisa free, unrestrained mark carrying member;

silicon rubber material interposed between said rough-surfaced frame andsaid mark carrying member with a surface of said silicon rubber materialconforming in shape to the surface of said roughsurfaced frame; and

an epoxy resin adhesive bonding a surface of said silicon rubbermaterial to said rough-surfaced frame and another surface of saidsilicon rubber material to said mark carrying member.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said silicon rubbermaterial is substantially non-porous.

3. In a piano or the like, a mark affixing structure for affixing afree, unrestrained mark carrying member to a rough-surfaced frame whichis subjected to impacts and/or vibrations, said mark affixing structurecomprising:

a free, unrestrained mark carrying member;

a recess formed in at least one of said mark carrying member and saidframe;

silicon rubber material located within the boundaries of said recess andinterposed between said frame and said mark carrying member with asurface of said silicon rubber material substantially conforming inshape to the surface of said frame, the thickness of said silicon rubbermaterial in the direction of the depth of said recess being greater thanthe depth of said recess; and

an epoxy resin adhesive bonding a surface of said silicon rubbermaterial to said frame and another surface of said silicon rubbermaterial to said mark carrying member.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said recess is formed insaid mark carrying member.

5. The structure according to claim 4 wherein said mark carrying memberhas a peripheral projection directed toward said frame and defining saidrecess, a clearance being defined between said silicon rubber materialand said peripheral projection.

1. In a piano or the like, a mark affixing structure for affixing afree, unrestrained mark carrying member to a roughsurfaced frame whichis subjected to impacts and/or vibrations, said mark affixing structurecomprising: a free, unrestrained mark carrying member; silicon rubbermaterial interposed between said rough-surfaced frame and said markcarrying member with a surface of said silicon rubber materialconforming in shape to the surface of said rough-surfaced frame; and anepoxy resin adhesive bonding a surface of said silicon rubber materialto said rough-surfaced frame and another surface of said silicon rubbermaterial to said mark carrying member.
 2. The structure according toclaim 1 wherein said silicon rubber material is substantiallynon-porous.
 3. In a piano or the like, a mark affixing structure foraffixing a free, unrestrained mark carrying member to a rough-surfacedframe which is subjected to impacts and/or vibrations, said markaffixing structure comprising: a free, unrestrained mark carryingmember; a recess formed in at least one of said mark carrying member andsaid frame; silicon rubber material located within the boundaries ofsaid recess and interposed between said frame and said mark carryingmember with a surface of said silicon rubber material substantiallyconforming in shape to the surface of said frame, the thickness of saidsilicon rubber material in the direction of the depth of said recessbeing greater than the depth of said recess; and an epoxy resin adhesivebonding a surface of said silicon rubber material to said frame andanother surface of said silicon rubber material to said mark carryingmember.
 4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein said recess isformed in said mark carrying member.
 5. The structure according to claim4 wherein said mark carrying member has a peripheral projection directedtoward said frame and defining said recess, a clearance being definedbetween said silicon rubber material and said peripheral projection.